Acting as a Slit-Eyed Villain Perfectly

Chapter 271

Chapter 271. Remaining Whereabouts (3)

After finishing my meeting with prince Kaldrach, I returned to 'Blind Eyes' and immediately noticed Pintel and Uruhar engaged in a heated argument.

I found it puzzling.

If you asked whether there was any reason for those two to be involved, there was none, and if there was any reason for them to fight, there was none either.

"What is happening here?"

I asked.

Nevertheless, the situation was as such. The two seemed ready to grab each other by the collars and were growling at each other.

As I stood there watching the situation, bewildered, Lazlot approached quietly.

"Are you back, Sir Yulian?"

"What were those two doing here?"

Lazlot shook his head left and right in disapproval. Although na had been watching the situation, na seemed not too interested in getting involved.

"All I know is that both came to see you, Sir Yulian."

To see me?

As for Pintel, I wasn't too surprised since I often consulted with him about matters related to the 'Dawn Society'.

However, Uruhar being part of the 'Imperial Knights' made me a bit curious.

'I did tell Uruhar to find Yulian the other day.'

To be honest, I didn't expect him to actually show up.

Considering Uruhar needs to maintain the reputation of the 'Imperial Knights', he should have avoided visiting a place like 'Blind Eyes'.

As commanders of the imperial guards, the 'Heavenly Reverence Guards', he should preserve their dignity and composure, shouldn't he?

'Blind Eyes' is a group mostly made up of commoners, not nobles. Because of that, there was a risk of attracting disapproval from the nobles.

'It must be related to the Black Knight.'

Uruhar was still useful in some ways. There's no more reliable source of information to monitor the movements of the 'Heavenly Reverence Guards'.

"Sir Uruhar."

As I called out Uruhar's name and approached, the two of them quieted down.

Pintel quickly straightened up and greeted me, while Uruhar continued to gaze at me with a somewhat discontented expression.

Seeing Pintel about to lose his temper again, I quickly opened my mouth to speak.

"I heard you wanted to talk. Shall we go inside?"

"Sure."

Uruhar nodded.

"Sir Pintel, could you wait for a moment? There's something urgent I need to discuss."

"Understood, Sir Yulian."

Since the matter was undoubtedly related to the 'Dawn Society', we couldn't discuss it in the presence of the 'Imperial Knights'.

Pintel seemed to understand that point and readily nodded.

Of course, it seemed he wasn't entirely without complaints.

"Damn it. I was waiting first..."

Was that so? I apologize.

***

As I entered my office, Uruhar seemed a bit hesitant. Perhaps he was reluctant to bring up the subject of the 'Black Knight' first, or maybe it was something else.

'Is it because it's me?'

I sensed that discussing the 'Black Knight' in front of 'Yulian' made him uncomfortable.

This guy, and that guy too.

If they knew who the 'Black Knight' really was, they'd be so astonished they'd do backflips.

"Are your wounds alright?"

So, I decided to break the ice. When I mentioned his injuries, Uruhar flinched.

"What?"

"Your injuries. I heard you got quite a beating from Sir Kikubad."

"Who told you that?"

"Who else would have been there besides you?"

As I casually shrugged, Uruhar closed his eyes tightly.

"... If only I could have used my aura, I wouldn't have been beaten like that."

"Why didn't you use it?"

"I might've blown my cover. I don't know Sir Kikubad's aura, but he knows mine."

I let out a chuckle.

"If you had died, no excuse like that would've mattered, Sir Uruhar."

"... Tsk."

Uruhar bit his lip hard.

"There was a reason. If I had revealed myself by using my aura there, I would've become the 'Black Knight'."

"Why are you worried about that? Let the Black Knight worry about it."

The words naturally rolled off my tongue in Yulian's tone. Although I had grown used to his mannerisms, I couldn't deny a slight discomfort.

But just this once, I also ended up mocking 'Uruhar' like him.

There's no point in dying, yet he's spouting nonsense.

"... Why are you talking to me like this?"

Uruhar finally started expressing his dissatisfaction as I continued to provoke him.

"It's because I know who I'm talking to, that I can speak like this."

I said with a smile. If he came to help the 'Black Knight', he's not the type to retreat from mere words.

Besides, the relationship between the 'Imperial Knights' and 'Blind Eyes' isn't great.

To be honest, it's more of Yulian's personal disposition.

That's why looking at the 'Imperial Knights' tends to irritate me.

It's not unbearable, though.

'Or maybe it's because he's an old classmate?'

Anyway.

"Currently, the Black Knight is monitoring Your Highness Eulsis' movements. Unless they make a move, there's nothing specific for you to do yet, Sir Uruhar."

"... So essentially?"

"Yes, I'm saying your journey here today was in vain."

Confronted with reality, Uruhar's face twisted with displeasure.

"Calm yourself. Having nothing to do means that the Black Knight is not facing any trouble."

"... That's true."

"Since Sir Kikubad is buried with the mansion, if Your Highness Eulsis wants to make a move, he'll need to pull out a new card."

Clap, clap, clap.

I applauded to boost Uruhar's morale.

Did it have any effect? Judging by his expression, it seemed not.

'He seems confused.'

I discreetly observed Uruhar's face. The first thing that came into view was his evident look of confusion.

'Uruhar is definitely useful, but he's still hesitating.'

Helping the 'Black Knight'.

I didn't know exactly what was driving this single-mindedness, but to be honest, I found it risky.

If he's disappointed even slightly in the 'Black Knight', he'll revert back to supporting Eulsis as an 'Imperial Knight,' which would cause problems for us.

'I'd like to sway his loyalty to Kaldrach if possible.'

But that's a tough task. Given the current deadlock, I wanted to understand Uruhar's thoughts clearly.

'Just take a moment, gather your thoughts, and make sure of your resolve.'

When you're stressed, taking time is essential.

"For now, wait. Once Your Highness Eulsis makes a move, that's when you'll have something to do."

"Got it."

"When that time comes, please lend your expertise, Sir Uruhar of the Imperial Knights."

As I smiled and spoke, Uruhar removed his emotions and rose from his seat.

"Phew."

As he left the room, I exhaled a sigh of relief.

In many ways, today was a tiring day caught between the 'Black Knight' and the 'Dawn Society'.

Knock, knock.

"Sir Yulian, may I come in?"

It was Pintel's voice.

Ah, the day isn't over yet.

***

As Yulian had suggested, upon reaching Fulcurn's estate, Kaldrach dismissed the patrolling soldiers and set the Wedge Knights to start organizing the debris.

"Ugh."

The deeper they dug, the more they sensed the faint presence of demonic energy, causing the witch Abisha to grimace.

Seeing her step back in disgust, Kaldrach pulled Abisha's hood down deeply and moved towards the site where the Wedge Knights were busily working.

"What do you see inside?"

"A resonance stone's barrier."

A resonance stone's barrier, they said.

Upon hearing those words, Kaldrach was convinced that the 'Demon God's Horn' was indeed buried here.

'Yulian's information was accurate.'

He became curious about how Yulian had obtained such information.

As a 'repeater', he hadn't come across such intel on his own journey.

However, the thought that it might be best not to delve too deeply also crossed his mind.

"You all need to put in a bit more effort."

In response to Kaldrach's words, the Wedge Knights began to work even more diligently.

Before long, a pillar began to emerge, and simultaneously, the sight of a fully equipped array of resonance stones came into Kaldrach's field of view.

There were no signs of previous excavation. If the 'Demon God's Horn' was indeed buried here, Eulsis would have rushed to collect it.

'I have my suspicions.'

Nevertheless, Kaldrach was drawn to continue the task. Eventually, from within the debris, the ominous glow of a dark blue light began to seep out.

"Everyone, move aside."

As Kaldrach advanced to the site, with instructions from a wedge officer, the workers and Wedge Knights began to clear the area.

Creaaaaak.

As Kaldrach removed the debris, the 'Demon God's Horn' was revealed, emanating its malevolent demonic energy.

"... It's really buried here!?"

Abisha exclaimed, astonished at the sight of the 'Demon God's Horn', while Kaldrach shouted to his crew.

"Bring the resonance stones!"

If it were an ordinary 'Devil's Horn,' transporting it in a simple box would suffice, but the demonic energy contained within the 'Demon God's Horn' was no ordinary matter.

Unless a temporary barrier with resonance stones was constructed, its demonic energy would contaminate everything nearby, making the use of resonance stones for transport a necessary measure.

"Are you out of your mind?"

While the Wedge Knights prepared to transport the 'Demon God's Horn', Abisha's harsh voice reached Kaldrach from where she stood further back.

"Isn't it your brother's goal to collect these four horns? How could he leave it like this?"

Her question was valid.

To summon the demon responsible for devastating the empire, Eulsis needed to collect all four of the 'Horns of the Demon God.'

While it could only happen during a 'total solar eclipse,' the idea of simply abandoning the 'Demon God's Horn' was unfathomable.

'What is he scheming?'

Of the horns now beyond Eulsis' grasp, there were two: the one Yulian possessed and this one here.

'Does he believe he can reclaim them at any time?'

It was a deduction I could accept, yet obtaining the 'Demon God's Horn' was a certainty.

By merely holding onto it, Eulsis wouldn't be able to conduct any ritual during the 'total solar eclipse.'

If that's the case, Eulsis is finished.

No matter how he might control the imperial household, questions of doubt would inevitably arise.

Even members of the imperial family and the 'Heavenly Reverence Guards' would express suspicions concerning the emperor's silence.

"Hmm?"

As Kaldrach was about to leave the wreckage, his eyes landed on something peculiar.

It was as if someone might have been present, judging by the uncovered debris and traces of aura.

Although the mansion was devoid of furniture, surviving such a collapse should have been impossible.

'He's indeed alive.'

Had he died along with the mansion, it would have been a welcome event.

Thinking so, Kaldrach proceeded toward the Wedge Knights.